The Pan-Asian Empire - Rid of the western Imperialists: Shilka (J) vs. Walloc (A)

[Shilka]

March 1st

Today the SS Grayling sunk a Kiso-E PB in an ASW-TF in the Yellow Sea. Better those PB's than the xAK's...

Above Canton Island, our Zeros were unable to stop the B17E-Forts and LB-30 Liberators. No bombed frames thou, 4 runway hits. We have 12 Mavises and 12 Zeros here and the lvl 2 airfield.

In China, we attacked Tsiaotso (next to Loyang) with poor results and didnt even drop the forts:

Ground combat at Tsiaotso (88,42)
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 24718 troops, 207 guns, 185 vehicles, Assault Value = 851
 
Defending force 21744 troops, 172 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 680
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 370
 
Allied adjusted defense: 1723
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 3)
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      1399 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 125 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 82 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      996 casualties reported
         Squads: 7 destroyed, 71 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

This base is a spike in the frontier, as it ties up troops and still the Chinese have a valid retreat path.



Two hexes west of Tsiaotso, we tried to clear the forest hex with even worse results:

Ground combat at 86,42
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 60939 troops, 703 guns, 431 vehicles, Assault Value = 2145
 
Defending force 72669 troops, 672 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2069
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 1096
 
Allied adjusted defense: 4351
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      6620 casualties reported
         Squads: 11 destroyed, 387 disabled
         Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 332 disabled
         Engineers: 4 destroyed, 64 disabled
      Vehicles lost 45 (2 destroyed, 43 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      1651 casualties reported
         Squads: 7 destroyed, 263 disabled
         Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 242 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled

We will wait for reinforcements and try again after the extra 600AV and a HQ have arrived.

[Shilka]

March 1 - March 10 / 1942

Well it's been a while since the last update, but the game has gone on to March 10th.


China

The theater in China has been really frustrating, as the forest-hex near Sian continues to hold. We can't muster just enough forces to dislodge the Chinese from the forest and the attacks have been pretty cruel for us despite very heavy bomb strikes. The first attack happened in March 6:

Ground combat at 86,42
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 82608 troops, 913 guns, 442 vehicles, Assault Value = 2825
 
Defending force 66386 troops, 659 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1849
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 1558
 
Allied adjusted defense: 3604
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      3744 casualties reported
         Squads: 5 destroyed, 283 disabled
         Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 104 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
      Vehicles lost 69 (34 destroyed, 35 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      3931 casualties reported
         Squads: 78 destroyed, 102 disabled
         Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 217 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
 
 The second attack happened on March 10, and it went worse for us, as the Chinese got some reinforcements in just at the same turn.

Ground combat at 86,42
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 80548 troops, 913 guns, 422 vehicles, Assault Value = 2691
 
Defending force 80741 troops, 696 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2396
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 1286
 
Allied adjusted defense: 4738
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      4344 casualties reported
         Squads: 11 destroyed, 319 disabled
         Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 314 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
      Vehicles lost 27 (8 destroyed, 19 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      1343 casualties reported
         Squads: 12 destroyed, 255 disabled
         Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 200 disabled
         Engineers: 4 destroyed, 14 disabled

I'm considering leaving these front a stalemate, for now. If I can't push Chinese back, then surely they cant push me back either. I need more troops as the forest really gives a terrific defensive bonus.

In Northern China, we have started pushing the Chinese units back NW of Paotow. So far we have gotten a few succesful over-river shock attacks causing severe casualties. The first one was on March 4:

Ground combat at 90,32
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 4838 troops, 46 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 200
 
Defending force 4974 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 135
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 52
 
Allied adjusted defense: 15
 
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      213 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Vehicles lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      1570 casualties reported
         Squads: 64 destroyed, 14 disabled
         Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 32 disabled
         Engineers: 4 destroyed, 4 disabled
      Units retreated 2

The second one happened in March 9 in another river crossing:

Ground combat at 89,31
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 5899 troops, 48 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 203
 
Defending force 2573 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 88
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 133
 
Allied adjusted defense: 7
 
Japanese assault odds: 19 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      29 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      1152 casualties reported
         Squads: 40 destroyed, 16 disabled
         Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 12 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
      Units retreated 1

In the Southern China, we are bagging in on the corps + HQ that formerly defended Wenchow. I have confidence that we might actually get rid of those two units as we have the strength and enough units to block the escape routes.

In Wuchow-theater, our two full-strength divisions that captured Wenchow, are approaching Canton to join the other forces, this time to capture Wuchow once and for all.


In the air, we have continued bombing the Chinese troops near Sian heavily without any resistance. I guess the AVG is used more cautiously after what happened to them on the ground. No mistake made, raids will continue against them every opportunity we get. Overstacked airfields are especially nice for this purpose.

[Shilka]

In the Burma theater, nothing major has happened in terms of fighting. The Central Burma valley has been captured, and Katha in Northern Burma just last turn. A regiment unit will arrive at Lashio the next turn where the British seemed to have bug out. Near Akyab, I have halted the advance there as we only have one tank regiment. It is at the hex SE of Akyab waiting for possible future reinforcements.

In a matter of fact, Bandoeng fell on March 7th, so the Imperial Guards and a infantry regiment will head to Burma. The 14th division has also been bought from Manchukuo and go to Burma to help the push towards the most Northern Burmese bases. I really want these, as they are jungle (easy to defend) and chokepoints to the rest of Burma.

In the air, we have continue bombing the stacks of units in the jungle at Northern Burma. March 9th was a sad day, when we lost 19 Sally IIa's for 12 Hurricane IIb and 5 Hurricane IIa Trop-fighters over Kalemyo.

Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 26
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       8 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet *
      26 x Ki-43-Ib Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet *
       3 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet *
 
---------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIa Trop x 6
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 11
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
      Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

----------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 3
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIa Trop x 4
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 14
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
      Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

----------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 85
      Ki-48-Ib Lily x 22
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIa Trop x 3
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 11
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-21-IIa Sally: 8 destroyed, 11 damaged
      Ki-48-Ib Lily: 6 damaged
---------------------------------------------

Our numerous sweeps didnt manage to get rid of the whole CAP in time, and we paid the price for it.  

[Shilka]

In Sumatra, we have advanced all the way through the jungle to Padang, which we surrounded and captured along 4 units:

Ground combat at Padang (44,85)
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 2583 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 224
 
Defending force 947 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 34
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 65
 
Allied adjusted defense: 7
 
Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 0)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Padang !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
 experience(-)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      41 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      758 casualties reported
         Squads: 35 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units destroyed 4
 
 
Assaulting units:
    III./124th Infantry Battalion
    41st Infantry Regiment
    91st Naval Guard Unit
 
Defending units:
    Riouw KNIL Battalion
    Zuid KNIL Battalion
    Padang Garrison Bn /1
    Djambi Base Force /1

Seems that two of those were fragmented. Damn. Always hate to capture nothing but fragments.

--------------------------------------------------------

On Java, we have made progress as Bandoeng fell on the 7th:

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 57695 troops, 675 guns, 128 vehicles, Assault Value = 1898
 
Defending force 18536 troops, 357 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 233
 
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 1354
 
Allied adjusted defense: 670
 
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bandoeng !!!
 
Allied aircraft
      no flights
 
Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      3100 casualties reported
         Squads: 6 destroyed, 185 disabled
         Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 110 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      12185 casualties reported
         Squads: 642 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 1789 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 188 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 528 (528 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 77 (77 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units destroyed 21
 
 
Assaulting units:
    56th Infantry Regiment
    4th Division
    114th Infantry Regiment
    113th Infantry Regiment
    11th Infantry Regiment
    21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
    112th Infantry Regiment
    21st Infantry Regiment
    55th Infantry Regiment
    Imperial Guards Division
    1st Raiding Regiment
    5th Engineer Regiment
    12th Engineer Regiment
    55th Engineer Regiment
    Southern Army
    18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
    3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    25th Army
    21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
    5th Field Artillery Regiment
    56th Field Artillery Regiment
    55th Mountain Gun Regiment
    17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
 
Defending units:
    Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
    1st KNIL Regiment
    1st Regt Cavalerie
    Marinier Battalion
    2nd KNIL Regiment
    3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
    4th KNIL Regiment
    Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
    6th KNIL Regiment
    2 ML-KNIL Aviation
    Batavia Base Force
    ML-KNIL
    Banjoewangi Base Force
    KNIL Army Command
    Loemafjang Base Force
    Tjilitap Base Force
    Madion Base Force
    1 ML-KNIL Aviation
    3rd KNIL AA Battalion
    Semarang Base Force
    Bandoeng Base Force

No fragments, yippee! Imperial Guards and a regiment are currently shipping out to Burma, the rest will grab Soerabaja and Malang and end the Dutch menace (once and for all, eh). Havent figured out what to do with the extra 1600av or so. The landings at NW Australia are going to happen probably after the Fiji and possibly New Caledonian campaigns are over.

Meanwhile we continue cleaning up the scattered DEI bases with small units and are starting to build some airfields around. The plan will probably be to build multiple lvl 4 airfield clusters in the Flores, Soemba and Timor and place Air HQ's accordingly. The plan is to contain Darwin using the NW Australia corner and the Torres strait using Port Moresby and an airfield cluster around Milne Bay. No direct invasions to Darwin are planned thou.

[Shilka]

Our advance toward Fiji is proceeding, as our Luganville landing force has set sail from Rabaul. It will be covered with LBA from Lunga (lvl 2 field) and the Zuikaku, Shokaku, Soryu and Hiryu. The CV Junyo has been completed and is steaming to join this force, as is Akagi, Kaga, Zuiho, Shoho, Hosho and the Chiyoda (currently near Truk for refueling). That means all the carriers except for the Taiyo, which is too slow for the operation. It will be a reserve carrier in Singapore.

Additionally we have 4 BB's, 9 CA's, 2CL's and 25DD's overall to cover these landings. As soon as we get Luganville, an air HQ will be rushed in and the Efate landing force will set sail. When all the carriers are gathered, the Fiji force will set sail. I have a few regiments also preparing for Koumac, we'll see if it isnt heavily defended I might land there as well to pave the way for Noumea. 90k troops and nearly 1000 artillery pieces are about to enter Rabaul from the Philippines.

To fuel things in this region, 5 large tankers with a capacity of 70k tons of fuel are soon leaving Palembang for Rabaul. Additionaly one large tanker is driving between Rabaul and Balikpapan. Rabaul currently has 24k tons of fuel.

In the Marshalls-region, we are building up numerous bases (Nauru, Tabiteau, Abemama, Tarawa, Makin, Mili, Jailut, Maloelap, Wotje, Roi-Namur) and fortifying them. Engineer units are arriving to Baker and Canton to help them fortify as well.

[Shilka]

Under the sea

On March 1st, the SS Grayling sunk the PB Shinko Maru. The accompaning subchasers reported one hit.

On the second, SS Sargo sunk the PB Takunan Maru #5 from an ASW TF just off Nagasaki. No retaliation was made by the other PB.

The SS KXVI sunk xAK Otori Maru near Rabaul. Again, no counter-attack.

Near San Francisco, the I-3 fired 4 torps at KV Dawson but they missed, and she was hit 4 times with DC's. the floatation damage rised to the 20's, but I decided to keep here on patrol.

On the 5th, the SS Narwhal sunk the xAKL Uragami Maru near Milne bay, this time our patrol boat reported 4 hits.

On the 8th, the SS KIX wandered into Balikpapan into the middle of the SC TF combined around the Haruna. She was rewarded with 7 depth charge hits, but no sinking was reported.

The I-162 spotted a _really_ major convoy in India:

ASW attack near Goa  at 31,30

Japanese Ships
     SS I-162, hits 2

Allied Ships
     AMC Pansy
     CM Willem v d Zaan
     AS Lucia
     xAP Arawa
     xAP Kelantan
     xAP Kepong
     xAP Poelau Telo
     xAP Cap St Jacques
     xAP Malda
     xAK Jalakrishna
     xAK Forafric
     xAK Yu Sang
     xAK Tanfield
     xAK Sirsa
     xAK Loch Ranza
     xAK Karoa
     xAK Jalaganga
     xAK Hosang
     xAK Gandara
     xAK Empire Raja
     xAK E Sang
     xAK Clan Alpine
     xAK Bucegi
     xAK Si Kiang
     xAK Fairfield City
     KV Aster
     KV Nigella
     AM Ballarat

The 8th of March was also a very unfortunate day for the IJN, as the SS-021 sunk the DD Hatsuyuki at Tarakan, which was escorting 3 AV's to Rabaul with another DD. No counter-attack was made.

On the 9th, it was the first sinking by a Japanese sub for a long time. Near Karachi, the I-121 put 4 torps into the xAK Ima, and that was the end of her. Near Hilo, Hawaii, the I-23 sunk an ACM.

On the 10th, the I-158 got a shot at the CL Capetown off Calicut, India, with 8 torpedos, but all of them missed. She got two DC hits in response, non of them causing serious damage.

[Shilka]

In "misc" news, we have finished the CV Junyo. We will now begin to accelerate the CV Taiho. Hiyo has been accelerated for the whole duration of the game.

In aircraft production, I have turned the 35x Lily factory to IIa Sallys bringing the total potential production to 125/month.

On the March 10th, the Home Islands received their first shipment of oil. Currently there is oil for 302 days worth. Resources have dropped to 74 days. It is pretty slow to change, so I have added a few odd xAK's here and there to the hauling-convoys in hope of stale-mating the number or even increasing it. Problem with Manchukuo is that I have had to make the convoys smaller to not to drain it completely. Fusan is almost a lvl 8 port, it might be possible to use only it. It would save considerable amounts of fuel.

[Saburo Kurusu]

Hello Shilka-san,

I congratulate you to your very successful and victorious advance against the evil Western imperialists!  [:)]
And I'm very curious on the results of your daring thrust against Fiji! The whole diplomatic staff of the Empire is proud of you and wholeheartedly supports all your efforts! I can also assure you that His Divine Imperial Highness does indeed show His respect and recognition!

BANZAI!!!

[Shilka]

Hello Saburo-san

Thank you for the kind words and the belief in the rightful ruler of the whole Asia [:'(]

The supreme commander has nothing to add to that, except a triple-BANZAI!!

And long live the Emperor [:)]


We will see how Fiji goes, as I have no recon info what is on the island. I do have numerous subs patrolling the routes in and out, and they haven't spotted anything for a while. The airfield level on Suva is level 4 and Noumea level 6, so air resistance is to be expected. We are flying in Oscar and Zero sentais from the DEI where they arent needed. I might yet hit Suva airfield and port prior to the landing on Nadi. My 4 CV's have been spotted, so I suspect suprise won't be possible. I will wait for the other CV's before I force a battle with the "Fijians".